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Description

Are you in that camp that thinks the 26-inch mountain bike wheel is washed up, no longer relevant, a compromise relative to the new, larger-diameter wheel standards out there? No problem. Keep on looking, and save incredible machines like the Santa Cruz Blur TR Alloy Frame you see here for riders who recognize that 26-inchers are far from obsolete, still bringing huge fun and advantages to the trail, such as awesome durability and rapid handling and acceleration, to name just a few.

The original Blur made waves when it hit the scene a few years ago, primarily because it was so versatile, and the market didn't know what to make of it. It could climb like a champ, bomb the gnarliest of descents, and then podium in dual-slalom. Was this a crazy-light all-mountain rig, or a gravity-worthy XC machine? The answer to virtually any of these questions was: yes. Eventually gaining more travel and morphing into the trail-focused Blur TR (hence the designation), this version zeroed in on the platform's trail worthiness without compromising any of its other split personalities, resulting in a bike that still confused many, but somehow satisfied even more.

The Blur TR relies on 125mm of travel out back, courtesy of the ingenious Virtual Pivot Point (or VPP) linkage system found on many of Santa Cruz's models. VPP is, essentially, two counter-rotating links that precisely control the rear wheel's movement through its travel. Through the beginning of its movement, the rear wheel moves vertically to ensure that the suspension is reactive to even minor trail inputs to keep things smooth. As it begins to compress further, however, VPP begins to move the wheel rearward, lengthening the bike's wheelbase for greater stability under hard landings or over extremely technical terrain. Because the lower link of the VPP system articulates the wheel away from the crank, pedaling forces are mitigated, ensuring that hard pedaling during sprints or climbs do not unnecessarily compress the suspension, keeping the system reactive to the trail while still remaining efficient and firm when you need it to be.

It's an ideal blend of taut and supple, and its flexibility is further enhanced by the three settings available to the rider in the Fox Float CTD Evolution shock — Climb, Trail, and Descend — which can be easily toggled while riding via a top-mounted switch, along with the shock's rebound and damping settings. Climb firms up the shock to compress as little as possible for maximum efficiency, while the Descend setting opens the shock completely to utilize its full range of travel. Trail mode finds a balance between the two and is where you'll probably leave the switch most of the time. The entire VPP system is secured by SC's super durable collet-style pivot hardware that's easily serviceable in your own garage if necessary.

While the carbon Blur TR claims the overall performance crown, the aluminum version leaves very little to be desired. Santa Cruz has long been established as a master of alloy formation, utilizing oversized, hydroformed tubes rendered in shapes that have resulted from years of both computer simulation and real-world testing to dial in the stiffest, most responsive, and most durable design possible while still keeping weight very reasonable. A tapered head tube keeps the front end stiff and handling precise, and the threaded bottom bracket is revered for its solidity and simplicity. The Blur TR's diverse set of skills is also in part afforded by its superbly balanced geometry, with a 68-degree head tube angle and a 72.5-degree seat tube angle. Those numbers mean you're canted forward enough to get aggressive on the pedals when you need to, but slack enough to pull your center of gravity back for excellent stability and predictability when the trail points downhill. Indeed, ask any rider who's spent some time on a Blur TR: it really can do anything.

The Santa Cruz Blur TR Alloy Frame comes in four sizes, from Small to X-Large, and in the colors Red/gloss blue or Black/gold. A size Medium Blur TR frame with shock weighs approximately 2,720 grams.

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Hello, unfortunately due to the restrictions from Santa Cruz we are unable to ship out of the United States. I do apologize, feel free to contact me at 801-736-6396 ext 4769 if you are curious about any other options or suggestions.